The posthatch physiology of the turkey poult--II. Hematology

Packed cell volume, total leukocytes, total erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean cell volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of the poult were analyzed daily for the first 10 days posthatch. Sexually dimorphic effects on hematological parameters were not apparent, but there was a sex X day interaction for all parameters except hemoglobin indicating that males were slower to develop/respond to critical stimuli. The study revealed a latency in production of erythrocytes and leukocytes in posthatch males and females which coincided temporally with early poult mortality.     

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity in turkey poults infected with Bordetella avium

1. Liver tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TPO) activity was depressed significantly by the Bordetella avium infection localized in the trachea of the turkey poult. 2. Tryptophan, given orally, induced a significant increase in TPO activity in both control and infected poults. 3. Hydrocortisone induced TPO activity in the turkey in a dose dependent manner.     

Effect of cage density and rank in peck order on brain regional monoamines in adult male Coturnix coturnix japonica

1. In adult male Coturnix coturnix japonica neither norepinephrine (NE) nor serotonin (5HT) in various brain regions were affected by caging density (174 cm2-8/cage; 348 cm2-4/cage; 696 cm2-2/cage). Dopamine (DA) in diencephalon was elevated in high density cages. 2. Peck order rank was assigned on the basis of feather distribution on head, neck and back and lesions on head and back. 3. Upper strata peck order rank was associated with significantly lower levels of brain regional NE and DA compared to lower strata peck order rank. 4. Peck order rank did not affect brain regional 5HT. 5. The results indicate significant individual behavioral-neuroendocrine interaction leading to reproductive dysfunction.     

Effects of intima stiffness and plaque morphology on peak cap stress

Background  

Rupture of the cap of a vulnerable plaque present in a coronary vessel may cause myocardial infarction and death. Cap rupture occurs when the peak cap stress exceeds the cap strength. The mechanical stress within a cap depends on the plaque morphology and the material characteristics of the plaque components. A parametric study was conducted to assess the effect of intima stiffness and plaque morphology on peak cap stress.     

Microbial synthesis of the sweet-tasting plant protein thaumatin

Thaumatin, the intensely sweet-tasting protein from the African plant, Thaumatococcus daniellii, is a potential low-caloric substitute for sugar and an attractive compound for studying the structural aspects of sweetness perception. Since thaumatin has other properties, such as flavour enhancement, it could also be used in products other than low-calorie foods. Recombinant DNA techniques could be used to synthesize this protein in quantities sufficient for such applications.     

Effect of ascorbic acid and acute heat exposure on heat shock protein 70 expression by young white Leghorn chickens

Dietary ascorbic acid (AA) and heat stress (HS) affect heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and body temperature (BT) of strain cross white Leghorn chickens. At five weeks of age, chicks fed either no supplemental AA (N-AA) or 200 mg/kg AA (AA) were subjected to either HS (42 degrees C) or maintained in control (CN, 23 degrees C) ambient temperature (T(a)) for 1 h. Body temperature (BT) was recorded for each bird before collection of heart and liver for hsp70 assay. In the CN AA-fed groups, neither the lower constitutive hsc70 nor the decreased hsp70 response to HS in the heart and liver were sex-dependent. The BT was increased by HS, but neither AA nor sex of the bird affected BT response. A diet X T(a) interaction revealed that BT of CN AA-fed chickens was lower than in N-AA-fed chickens, but BT of HS AA-fed chicks was greater than BT in HS N-AA-fed chickens. The BT and hsp70 responses were positively correlated. A lower expression of hsp70 indicated less of a stress response in the AA-fed chickens.     

Serum chemistries of Coturnix coturnix japonica given dietary manganese oxide (Mn3O4)

1. Plasma creatinine and inorganic phosphorus were increased in manganese oxide (Mn3O4)-treated adult male Coturnix quail, but BUN, BUN/creatinine ratio, uric acid, and total calcium were decreased. 2. Serum enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and lactic dehydrogenase) were elevated in Mn3O4-treated adult male Coturnix quail, but creatine phosphokinase was not affected. 3. Dietary Mn3O4 at 5000 ppm did not produce overt signs of toxicosis.     

Tissue monoamine and plasma corticosterone concentrations following sympathetic alteration during acute endotoxicosis in chickens.

1. Splenic and heart ventricular NE levels and plasma corticosterone concentrations were increased following E. coli endotoxin administration in three-week-old chicks. 2. Chicks receiving either reserpine or propranolol injection before endotoxin exhibited increased NE in both tissues while only splenic 5-HT increased in birds receiving propranolol and endotoxin. 3. The effects of acute bacterial infection in chickens involves the peripheral nervous system neurotransmitters, NE and 5-HT, in the regulation of immune response.